Keilwerth Saxophones

Keilwerth’s 100th Anniversary SX90R

GebrM for JK large MOP key touches

I can’t believe it’s been just over a year already that I set my alarm for a crazy-early wakeup of 5:30 a.m., so I could take part in the detailed, online, public unveiling of Keilwerth’s 100th Anniversary SX90R model. Nothing against our host—French and American saxophonist Alex Terrier, and his guest who holds 2 positions with the company, Director of Sales and Marketing for Buffet Crampon USA, as well as Group Product Manager for Julius Keilwerth, Al Maniscalco—but despite my coffee, and the stunningly beautiful subject matter, I nearly nodded off a couple of times that early morning of Feb. 5, 2025.

These days, very few companies survive to be 100 years old—it doesn’t matter if they make automobiles, home appliances, or musical instruments. However, despite all the geopolitical and economic challenges the company has faced, Julius Keilwerth, which has been part of Buffet Crampon since August 2010, celebrated its centenary in 2025! Well done JK, well done!

Disclaimer: OK, so I am not really what one could call an impartial observer. Over the past 15 years I have gone from owning 0 Keilwerths to 6: an alto & tenor Toneking, 3 Coufs: alto, bari, & bass, as well as a brand new, SX90 R Shadow tenor. I have also had the chance to play 100+ vintage and new Keilwerth horns over the past 20 years. I have yet to find 1 I didn’t like—including numerous vintage stencils.

Tying into history, but also doing something new

Keilwerth’s description of its 100th Anniversary SX90R ¹

Model designations

JK2401C-M5B-0: alto
JK3401C-M5B-0: tenor

Ultra-limited edition

• 100 horns produced in total: 50 alto & 50 tenor
• These were distributed around the world with each region receiving anywhere between 15-20. (Regions are areas such as Europe, the Americas, etc)
• Each Anniversary model has 2 numbers:
  • The regular Keilwerth serial number.
  • Plus the X of 50 to show which of the 50 altos or tenors it is.

Features

Necks

• The 100th Anniversary SX90R alto and tenor come with 2 necks each: a conventional neck, as well as an ICON neck.
• The ICON neck for tenor has been around for a while, but the alto version was newly created for this anniversary edition SX90R.
• The finish of these necks is unique to the 100th Anniversary SX90R model.
• However, both ALTO and TENOR ICON necks can be ordered through your local Buffet dealer for your SX90R.

What’s the same in the 2 necks:

• Size
• Dimensions
• Shape
• Taper
• Bore

What’s different?

• Added bracing—1 for alto, 2 for tenor—which prevent pull down due to their added support.

How does the bracing change the response?

• It changes the focus of the response due to the added stability that reduces the vibration of the neck, and puts more of that energy through the instrument that you don’t lose in the vibration of the neck.
• Changes the response of the instrument, and acts as a power boost.
• Changes the way the horn responds and projects.

Cases

For the 100th Anniversary SX90R model cases Keilwerth did something I didn’t think I would see: they used a different case company. Jacob Winter has been making Keilwerth’s cases for a long time, but personally I haven’t been their biggest fan. While some models are fantastic, some don’t fit the horns all that well.

For this special model of SX90R, JK opted instead for a leather case by GARD. I recently bought a GARD case for my Couf Superba I bass, and it is quite a decent alternative to the poorly-fitted, stock Winter case that is almost the size of twin size bed.

The following comes directly from the JK website

The Julius Keilwerth 100th Anniversary SX90R Saxophone is designed to celebrate the traits and innovations that have made Julius Keilwerth saxophones synonymous with excellence for 100 years. By bringing together design features from key models in the storied history of this brand, the 100th Anniversary SX90R would not be complete without the standard Rolled Tone Holes, G# Lifting Mechanism, and Adjustable Palm Keys for which Keilwerth is renowned.

One of the most distinctive features is the re-introduction of the Angel Wing key guard on the lower bell keys, a design not used since the legendary Tone King models of the 1950s. The rejuvenated, iconic key guard features a removeable design for those who prefer a more traditional, modern look and slightly lighter response.

Completing this design is the hand engraving to celebrate and personify the 100-year history of quality and craftsmanship for which the Julius Keilwerth brand is known.

Technical specifications

Source: julius-keilwerth.com

100th Anniversary SX90R brochure

This is the informational page that JK provided in the 100th Anniversary SX90R brochure. I am including it here only for future reference.

100th Anniversary SX90R Backstory

As I mentioned at the top, on Feb. 6, 2025, I took part in the detailed, online, public unveiling of Keilwerth’s 100th Anniversary SX90R model. The call video was ultimately uploaded to YouTube, and I embedded it below.

In addition to what I’ve already included in this article, I found the following info about this model’s backstory very interesting. For those of you who love JK saxophones, or enjoy researching saxophone history, this is for you.

How this horn came about

Concept

• A few years before Keilwerth’s 100 anniversary, Al began thinking of ways to celebrate the centenary of the company.
• Since the 75th model nothing special had been done, so he wanted it to be something really special, but different.
• Al thought the company should tie into its history, but also do something new.
• For the history Al drew inspiration from old brochures ranging from the 1930s – 1950s.
• For the new, he looked at what he wished the brand could be doing, but hadn’t done yet.
• The goal was never to reinvent the saxophone, or even the SX90R, since the core of its design is great.
• His idea was to celebrate the brand and to include things that enhance the sax esthetically—be a nice tribute for what the brand deserves.

Considerations

• Materials
• Finish
• Weight

Process

• Al travelled to Germany from the US.
• He met with the team at the JK factory and they discussed what they could do; what they would like do; and how to put these things together in different combinations with what they thought would work.
• They discussed things like: finish designs; key styles; and key finishes.
• They then went about making small samples of each and piecing them together to see what it would look like, and how it might work.
• The decision was made the Shadow model would serve as the 100th Anniversary’s base for 2 main reasons:
  1. Its German nickel silver construction gives it a distinctive sound, and
  2. It remains the most popular SX90R model.
• Then the team began adding the parts that make it stand out from previous versions, and the 100th Anniversary model was born.

Timeline

• Al travels to Germany in fall 2023 for the first time.
• 1.5 – 2 years from that initial meeting, the rollout of the 100th Anniversary SX90R occurs.

Videos

I have included a couple videos here in case you are interested in learning more. The first is an overview of the 100th Anniversary SX90R model alto and tenor from the UK Sax Shop, while the second is the entire video call of the detailed, online, public unveiling of Keilwerth’s 100th Anniversary SX90R model.

P.S.

OK, so I know I am a year late, but in my defense I had A LOT going on. Sorry Al, 2025 was a real show for me personally.

¹ The information mentioned in this article that is not listed on the JK website, or in the printed materials, came from Al Maniscalco directly.